Hydraulic air drilling unit



M. H. EMRICK 2,863,339 HYDRAULIC AIR DRILLING UNIT Filed Jan. 26, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I V I].- lri g INVENTOR.

MELVIN H. EMRICK flTTORNEY,

Dec. 9, 1958 M. H. EMRICK HYDRAULIC AIR DRILLING UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1956 ATTORNEY 1958 M. H. EMRICK HYDRAULIC AIR DRILLING UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 26, 1956 Qm &@ on *0 m 0Q 6 -fl Lu v INVENTOR. MELVIN H EMRmK ATTORNEY United States Patent HYDRAULIC AIR DRILLING UNIT Melvin H. Emrick, Manhasset, N. Y.; Dorothea A. rick, executrix of said Melvin H. Emrick, deceased Application January 26, 1956, Serial No. 561,542

Claims. (Cl. 77--33.5)

This invention relates to drilling units, wherein air cylinders are employed to feed a drill or series of drills toward and from a workpiece in the operation of drilling the same. More particularly, the invention deals with a machine or unit of the character described, wherein a hydraulic cylinder is employed to control and regulate operation of the unit.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a unit of the character described, wherein the same can be converted from a single tool operating unit to a multiple tool operating unit, the latter including an adaptor for coupling with a multiple drill head.

i The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view through a unit made according to my invention, the section being substantially on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device, as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device showing a modified adaptation, with parts of the construction removed and with parts broken away and in section and also illustrating a modified form of drive; and

Fig. 4 is a partial end view of the structure, as seen in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, l have shown one adaptation of my invention, in which a casing it) is employed, having a supporting base ill for mounting in connection with any type and kind of machine, the base having grooved portions 12 to key and aline'the unit on the machine. The casing is fashioned to form two cylinders 13 and 14, which are open at opposed ends and mounted intermediate the cylinders are spaced ball bearings 15 and 16 for support of a tubular drive shaft 1'7, the shaft having a flexible coupling, as at it for coupling with the motor shaft 19, the motor 20 being supported upon the open end 21 of the casing, as clearly noted.

The unit, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, is adapted for use in operation of an adaptor crosshead 22, including a driven shaft 23, having longitudinal keyways 24 engaged by keys 25 supported by a collar 26 on the drive shaft 17.

The driven shaft 23 has a reduced angular socket end 27 supported in the adaptor by a ball bearing 28, the socket end being adapted to receive and drive the shaft of a multiple tool head. Heads of this type and kind are well known in the art and, for this reason, no specific showing of the head is made.

The adaptor 22 has opposed offset portions 29 forming said crosshead, with which are coupled piston rods 30, the coupling of rods 30 with portions 29 of the crosshead being substantially in transverse alinement with the bearing 28. Keyed to the rods 30, within the cylinders 13 and 14 by split spring rings 31, are pistons 32 and ICC 2 33, respectively, operating in the cylinders 13 and The cylinder 13 has its ends closed by heads 34, whereas, the cylinder 14 has its ends closed by similar heads 34, 35. These heads are sealed in the respective cylinders, as indicated by outer 0-rings 3n and inner 0- rings 37. Positioned between the O-rings 37 of the respcctive cylinders are cylinder liners 38, 38', in which the pistons 33, respectively, operate. Opposed surfaces of the pistons are recessed, so as to provide extending annular flanges T 9 39' on the piston 32 and 40, 40 on the piston 33. it will also appear that, supported on the outer surface of the pistons, are O-rings 41, .41? to seal the pistons in their operation within the liners 38, 33. it will also appear that sealing O-rings 42 are provided in the heads 34, 34', 35, 35' to seal the piston rods 39 in their operation in said heads.

It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawing, that the cylinders 13 and 14 are disposed at one end of the casing in Wide spaced relationship to the end 21 to provide a chamber 43, in which the ends of the piston rods 30 operate. These ends are joined in a substantially V-shapecl bracket 44. Note in this connection Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. The bracket ties the two piston rods for simultaneous movement in opera.- tion of. the pistons in advancing and retarding the adaptor plate 22.

The plate 22 includes an offset forked portion 45, which is generally similar to the offset forked portion 45", noted in Figs. and 4 of the drawing and later described. The forked portion 45 extends over another piston rod 46 which extends into a hydraulic cylinder 47, diagram: matically shown in Fig, 3 of the drawing, and is coupled with a piston 58 operating in said cylinder.

Secured to the rod 46 is an. adjustable nut 49 including a lock nut 59, which is so spaced with respect to the forked offset 45. as to control free movement of the adaptor plate 22 and the head supported thereby in the direction of the workpiece to be drilled, whereupon, in continued movement of the plate 22 and its associated parts, the tool is moved into the work and this movement is controlled by the operation of the hydraulic cylinder, that is to say, the piston 48 operating in the cylinder. To con? trol this operation, the discharge of the hydraulic medium from the end 51 of the cylinder 47 into a bypass tube 52. and thus into the other end 53 of the cylinder 47 is controlled by an adjustable needle valve 54, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3. Adjustment of the needle valveis controlled by a milled head 55, the adjustment being fixed by a lock nut 56.

The structure, just described, is disposed at the side lid of the casing, as noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing and, in this figure, the head of the. needle valve 54 is indicated in dotted lines. At this time, itis to be pointed out that the structure of the unit, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is substantially identical to the structure of the unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the modification of Figs. 3; and 4 being substantially in the omission of the plate 22 and, further, in the illustration of a different drive, these modifications being later described.

Supported at the side It) of the casing and outwardly thereof is a suitable check valve, which is diagrammatically outlined in dotted lines at 57. This valve is of standard construction and simply controls the air flow to end portions of the respective cylinders 13 and 14 and is electrically controlled through operation of micro- H switches 58 and 59. The switch 58 is fixed in the side 10" of the casing; whereas, the switch 59 is supported on a block 60, the position of whi h is adjusted by an adjustment screw 61 having an external operating knob 62..

Fixed to the block .60. is a rod 63 which extends through the casingand acts as a gauge to indicate the, feed of the ldatented Dec. 9, 1958 3 tool in its operation in the workpiece. It may be described as a control of the depth of tool operation.

Also supported on the block 60 are a pair of rods 64, which operatein the casing in keying and positioning the block 60, as will be apparent. It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing, that the microswitch 59 projects beyond the surface 65 of the block 60 so as to be engaged by the surface 66 of the bracket 44 as the bracket advances in the direction of the switch 59. The bracket also includes an adjustable stop screw 67 which is adapted to strike the surface 65 after the switch 59 has been operated, so as to provide a positive check limiting movement of the pistons 32 and 33 in the drive direction in the cylinders 13 and 14.

It will be noted, from the broken section of the bracket 44 in Fig. 3, that the bracket has an aperture 68, through which the screw 61 is free to pass. The bracket 44 also includes an offset portion 69, in which an adjustable screw 70 is mounted to operatively engage the micro-' switch 58 in checking reverse action of the pistons 32, 33 in the cylinders 13 and 14. In other words, in the drive action of the unit, as and when the current to the valve is turned on, either manually or through automatic control, air is admitted into the head ends 35, 35' of the cylinders through a suitable supply pipe 71, which communicates with ports 72 and 73, the latter opening into the chamber 74 of the piston 32, the chamber 74 being formed by the protruding flange 39. From this chamber, the air passes through other ports 73, 72', similar to the ports 73 and 72, and then extends into a by-pass tube 75, which extends to the head 35 and the head 35 will have ports, similar to the ports 72 and 73 to extend the air into the chamber 74' of the piston 33, thus simultaneously the air, under pressure, will force the pistons 32 and 33 in the direction of the head ends 34, 34'.

As and when the bracket 44 strikes the switch 59, the valve 57 will be actuated to shut off the air supply to the pipe 71 and automatically inject air, under pressure, to the pipe 71', similar to the pipe 71. Here again, the air will be admitted into the head ends 34, 34 of the cylinders through ports and passages, similar to 72, 73; 72', 73' and thus through a by-pass 75, similar to the by-pass 75 to the head 34'. It will be noted, in this connection, that the pistons 32, 33 have chambers at the opposed sides thereof, similar to the chambers 74, 74' for by-passing the air, particularly if the piston 32 should be arranged adjacent the head 34 in what might be termed a long stroke of the operating unit.

It will be apparent that the flanges 39, 39', 40, 40' are in position to operate in conjunction with O-rings 37 to check movement of the pistons in both directions in the cylinders.

Considering Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the casing has an opening 76, which is controlled by a cover 77, preferably of the contour illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. A stud 78 is fixed to the casing for reception of a single nut 79 to support the cover in position. Upon removal of the cover, access to the interior of the casing is made possible.

It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing, that the cylinders 13 and 14 extend, in part, from one end of the casing proper and one of these cylinders is braced by the brace rib 80, which is noted in section in Fig. 1 and also illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

In the modified showing of Figs. 3 and 4, a different drive is illustrated, the drive comprising a bearing plate 81 supported on the end 21 of the casing, the bearing plate 81 having an extended hub portion 82 with a pair of spaced bearings 83 therein for support of a shaft 19, generally similar to the shaft 19. The shaft 19 extends beyond the hub 82 and has a dual pulley unit 84 mounted thereon. This type of construction provides a belt drive from a suitable drive source.

from the shaft 23 in having a protruding spindle end 85 projecting through a bracket 86, the latter supporting a bearing 87, in which the shaft 23' is freely rotatable. The bracket 86 includes the offset forked portion previously described, which fits over and operates upon the rod 46 in the same manner as the operation of the forked end 45. In this connection, it will appear that a disc 88 is fixed to the rod 46 to control return feed of the piston 48 and, in this feed and in order to facilitate quick operation of the return stroke, the piston 48 will employ a ball check valve control 48', which facilitates free passage of the hydraulic medium from the head end 53 of the cylinder 47 into the head end 51 of said cylinder.

At this time, it will also be apparent that, by providing the needle valve control, as at 54, of the flow of the hydraulic medium of the cylinder 47, the speed of movement of the tool into the work can be controlled, the air pressure on the pistons 32 and 33 being constant under a predetermined pressure.

In view of the fact that the parts of the unit, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are identical with the unit, as shown in- Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception of the modifications described, like references will identify like parts in the several views. The operation of my improved unit will be readily understood from the foregoing when taken in connection with the following drawing and the following statement.

Considering the position of the parts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, in which position the crosshead 22 is in raised position or, in other words, a toolor multiple head arranged on the crosshead is in inoperative position with respect to a workpiece. In moving the unit in the downward or drive position, air is admitted into the upper ends of the cylinders to move the pistons 32, 33

downwardly together with the crosshead 22 and the V- shaped bracket 44, which couples the upper or inner ends of the rods 30. In this operation, and here noting Fig. 3 of the drawing, the forked portion 45' first moves freely along the piston rod 46 until it engages the adjustable nut 49. This free movement is the movement of the tool approaching a workpiece and, for this reason, adjustment of the nut 49 will be apparent. Then, as the downward movement continues, the forked portion engaging the nut the speed of this working stroke of the tool is controlled' The depth of the working stroke is checked by the adjustable switch 59 striking the surface 66 of the bracket 44.

Actuation of the switch 59 automatically reverses air flow to the two cylinders to admit air to the lower ends of the cylinders, thus moving the pistons 32 and 33, together with the associated parts, upwardly and, in this operation, it will be apparent that the tool has a free movement by virtue of the movement of the forked portion 45 between the nut 49 and the disc 88; whereupon, the piston 48 is moved upwardly in the hydraulic cylinder and the ball check valve 48 facilitates free passage of the piston in its upward movement. This upward movement or return of the various parts of the unit to the normal stationary position is checked by engagement of the adjustable screw 70 with the stop switch 58 and the parts are now in position, preparatory for the next successive operation of.

the unit, as described above.

new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A drilling unit of the character described, comprising a casing, a base for supporting said casing, a pair of air cylinders at one end portion of the casing, pistons in said cylinders, the pistons having rods protruding through inner and outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the rods at the outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the inner ends of the rods within said casing, an elongated tubular drive shaft supported intermediate said cylinders and having key means, a driven shaft mounted in and movable longitudinally of the drive shaft and including a.

keyway receiving the key means of said drive shaft, said driven shaft being supported in the first named means substantially in alinement with the outer ends of said rods and including means for coupling a tool therewith, and means comprising an hydraulic cylinder in operative engagement with a part on said first named means for controlling the speed of operation of said tool.

2. A drilling unit of the character described, comprising a casing, a base for supporting said casing, a pair of air cylinders at one end portion of the casing, pistons in said cylinders, the pistons having rods protruding through inner and outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the rods at the outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the inner ends of the rods within said casing, an elongated tubular drive shaft supported intermediate said cylinders and having key means, a driven shaft mounted in and movable longitudinally of the drive shaft and including a keyway receiving the key means of said drive shaft, said driven shaft being supported in the first named means substantially in alinement with the outer ends of said rods and including means for coupling a tool therewith, means comprising an hydraulic cylinder in operative engagement with a part on said first named means for controlling the speed of operation of said tool, and said hydraulic cylinder including adjustable valve means for varying the speed of operation of the tool.

3. A drilling unit of the character described, comprising a casing, a base for supporting said casing, a pair of air cylinders at one end portion of the casing, pistons in said cylinders, the pistons having rods protruding through inner and outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the rods at the outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the inner ends of the rods within said casing, an elongated tubular drive shaft supported intermediate said cylinders and having key means, a driven shaft mounted in and movable longitudinally of the drive shaft and including a keyway receiving the key means of said drive shaft, said driven shaft being supported in the first named means substantially in alinement with the outer ends of said rods and including means for coupling a too] therewith, means comprising an hydraulic cylinder in operative engagement with a part on said first named means for controlling the speed of operation of said tool, said hydraulic cylinder including adjustable valve means for varying the speed of operation of the tool, and the operative engagement of the part on the first named means with said hydraulic cylinder including adjustable means controlling free travel of the tool independently of operation of said hydraulic cylinder.

4. A drilling unit of the character described, comprising a casing, a base for supporting said casing, a pair of air cylinders at one end portion of the casing, pistons in said cylinders, the pistons having rods protruding through inner and outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the rods at the outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the inner ends of the rods within said casing, an elongated tubular drive shaft supported intermediate said cylinders and having key means, a driven shaft mounted in and movable longitudinally of the drive shaft and including a keyway receiving the key means of said drive shaft, said driven shaft being supported in the first named means substantially in alinement with the outer ends of said rods and including means for coupling a tool therewith, means comprising an hydraulic cylinder in operative engagement with a part on said first named means for controlling the speed of operation of said tool, and means including a pair of switches in said casing and in operative engagement with the coupling means at the second named end portions of said rods for controlling operation of the pistons in said cylinders in the forward and reverse drives of a tool.

5. A drilling unit comprising a casing, a pair of air cylinders in said casing, pistons in said cylinders, said pistons having rods protruding through opposed head ends of said cylinders, means for admitting air under pressure to opposed ends of the cylinders in operating the pistons in both directions in said cylinders, tool actuating means coupled with one protruding end of said piston rods, a member joining the other end of the rods, and means in operative engagement with said member for controlling movement of the pistons in. said cylinders through the air supply to the opposed ends of the cylinders.

6. A drilling unit comprising a casing, a pair of air cylinders in said casing, pistons in said cylinders, said pistons having rods protruding through opposed head ends of said cylinders, means for admitting air under pressure to opposed ends of the cylinders in operating the pistons in both directions in said cylinders, tool actuating means coupled with one protruding end of said piston rods, a member joining the other end of the rods, means in operative engagement with said member for controlling movement of the pistons in said cylinders through the air supply to the opposed ends of the cylinders, and means in operative engagement with said second named means for governing the speed of travel of a tool in the forward drive of the tool by the pistons in said air cylinders.

7. A drilling unit comprising a casing, a pair of air cylinders in said casing, pistons in said cylinders, said pistons having rods protruding through opposed head ends of said cylinders, means for admitting air under pressure to opposed ends of the cylinders in operating the pistons in both directions in said cylinders, tool actuating means coupled with one protruding end of said piston rods, a member joining the other end of the rods, means in operative engagement with said member for controlling movement of the pistons in said cylinders through the air supply to the opposed ends of the cylinders, means in operative engagement with said second named means for governing the speed of travel of a tool in the forward drive of the tool by the pistons in said air cylinders, and valve means for adjusting the last named means to vary the speed of travel.

8. A drilling unit comprising a casing, a pair of air cylinders in said casing, pistons in said cylinders, said pistons having rods protruding through opposed head ends of said cylinders, means for admitting air under pressure to opposed ends of the cylinders in operating the pistons in both directions in said cylinders, tool actuating means coupled with one protruding end of said piston rods, a member joining the other end of the rods, means in operative engagement with said member for controlling movement of the pistons in said cylinders through the air supply to the opposed ends of the cylinders, said tool actuating means comprising a drive shaft and a driven shaft keyed to and movable longitudinally of said drive shaft, means for actuating the drive shaft, switches in the casing, means on the second named ends of said rods operatively engaging the switches to control movement of the pistons in the cylinders in both directions, and manually operated means exposed through the casing for adjusting one of said switches.

9. A drilling unit of the character described, comprising a casing, a base for supporting said casing, a pair of air cylinders at one end portion of the casing, pistons in said cylinders, the pistons having rods protruding through inner and outer ends of the cylinders, means coupling the rods at the outer ends of the cylinder, means coupling the inner ends of the rods within said casing, an elongated tubular drive shaft supported intermediate said cylinders and having key means, a driven shaft mounted in and movable longitudinally of the drive shaft and including a keyway receiving the key means of said drive shaft, said driven shaft being supported in the first named means substantially in alinement with outer ends of said rods and including means for coupling a tool therewith, a hydraulic cylinder supported in said casing, the hydraulic cylinder having a piston with a rod protruding through the casing at the outer end of said air cylinders, said first named means including means operatively engaging means on said protruding end of the first named rod for actuating the piston of said hydraulic cylinder in operation of the pistons in said air cylinders in movement of a tool in forward and reverse directions, and means comprising a pair of switches in operative engagement with said coupling means at said end portions of the first named piston rods controlling supply of air to opposed end portions of said air cylinders in forward and reverse feeds of the tool.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein means is provided for adjustably supporting one of the switches in the casing to regulate feed stroke of a tool.

11. A structure as defined in claim 10, wherein said last named means is exposed externally of the casing for manual operation.

12. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein means is mounted on the casing for operating said drive shaft.

13. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein said air cylinders include cylinder heads, having packings for sealing the heads in the air cylinders, and pistons in the 8 air cylinders operating in liners positioned intermediate said heads.

14. A structure as defined in claim 13, wherein air directed to opposed end portions of the air cylinders being through pipes and passages in the heads of one air cylinder, and means coupled with said last named heads and the heads of the opposed air cylinder for by-passing the air from the first air cylinder to corresponding end portions of the opposed air cylinder in simultaneously actuating the pistons of both air cylinders.

15. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein said first named means comprises an adaptor plate for mounting of a multiple head, and the end of the driven shaft having,

within said plate, a key socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,472,968 Goldberg June 14, 1949 

